Finding Books Using Library of Congress Classification

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How Call Numbers Work

What does the call number mean?

The Library of Congress Classification arranges materials by subjects. The first sections of the call number represent the subject of the book. The letter-and-decimal section of the call number often represents the author's last name. And, as you recall, the last section of a call number is often the date of publication. example:

Because books are classified by subject, you can often find several helpful books on the same shelf, or nearby. For example, within the same call number LB2395, there are other guides for college study.

A Brief Outline of Library of Congress Classification

A-AZ General Works: Encyclopedias, almanacs, general indexes
B-BX Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: BD Philosophy; BF Psychology; BL-BX Religion
C-CT Auxiliary Sciences of History: CC Archaeology; CS Genealogy; CT Biography
D-DX General and Old World History: Includes geography and description of regions and countries
DA-DR Europe; DK Soviet Union; DS Asia; DT Africa
E-F History: Americas: E North American; F United States local history, Latin America
G-GV Geography, Anthropology, Recreation: G Geography, atlases; GE Environmental sciences; GN Anthropology; GR Folklore; GV Sports, dance, games
H-HX Social Sciences: H General social sciences; HA Statistics; HB Economics; HC Economic conditions; HD Industry, labor; HE Transportation, communication; HF Business, commerce; HG Finance; HM Sociology; HQ Family, marriage, aged, women, sexuality; HT Communities, cities, races; HV Criminology, drug abuse; HX Socialism, communism, anarchism, utopias
J Political Science: JF Constitutional history; JK United States; JS Local government; JX International law, world peace
K Law: KF United States law; KFC California law
L Education
M Music
N-NX Art: NA Architecture; NB Sculpture; NC Drawing, design, illustration; ND Painting; NK Arts, crafts
P-PZ Language and Literature: P Philology, linguistics, communication; PA Classical languages, literature; PC Romance languages, literature; PE English dictionaries, thesauri; PF German, Dutch; PG Russian; PL Far eastern languages; PN Drama, poetry, radio broadcasts, movies, television, journalism; PQ Romance literature; PR English literature; PS American literature; PZ Fiction in English
Q-QR Science: Q General science; QA Mathematics, computer science; QB Astronomy; QC Physics; QD Chemistry, biochemistry; QE Geology; QH Natural history; QK Botany; QL Zoology
R Medicine: RA Public aspects of medicine; RC Practice of medicine; RD Surgery; RJ Pediatrics; RM Therapeutics, drugs; RS Pharmacy
S-SK Agriculture: SB Plant culture; SD Forestry
T-TX Technology: TA Engineering; TL Motor vehicles, aeronautics; TR Photography; TX Home economics
U Military Science
V Naval Science
Z Bibliography, library science

A fuller description of the classification system is available from the Library of Congress.

This page was compiled from guides created by the University of Maryland and the University of Hawaii.

Long Descriptions of Images in this Document

Description for call number image 1

Four books are shown on a shelf. The call numbers for each book, reading from left to right are

B3 .C3
B3 .D4
BC15.5 .A25
BC15.5 .A3

The text underneath the books explains how to find call numbers on the shelf.

Books are shelved alphabetically by the first letter or letters
Books are then arranged numerically by the number following the letter or letters.
Finally, books are shevled alphabetically by the next letter and decimally by the following number.

Description for call number image 2

The image is in two columns. On the left side is a picture of a book whose title is What you need to Know About Developing Study Skills, Taking Notes & Tests, Unist Dictionaries & Libraries. The author is Coman, Marcia J. The call number is LB2395.C65 1991.

On the right side is a picture of that call number with the description:

The first two lines describe the subject of the book; that is, LB2395 equals the subject area Methods of Study in Higher Education.
The next line, .C65, often represents the author's last name. .C65 equals Coman
The last line, 1991, is the year the book was published.

Description for call number image 3

The third image illustrates how books are organized on the shelf first by the subject of the book, next by its location with in that subject area, normally by author but sometimes by title.